How to Give Medications to Dogs

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Don’t give your dog any medication until you have spoken to your
veterinarian to make sure it is the right medicine for the dog and the
circumstances. You should also ask for instructions on how to give the drug and
the correct dosage for your dog.

Pills, Capsules and Tablets

To give a dog a pill, slip your thumb into the space behind one of the
canine teeth and press upward on the roof of the mouth. As the
mouth begins to open, press down on the lower jaw with the opposite thumb.
Alternatively, press in on both lips from above the muzzle. As the skin pushes in behind the
canines, the dog will open her mouth.

Insert the pill well to the back of the tongue in the middle of the mouth.
If you place the pill too far forward or to the side of the tongue, the dog
will spit it out. Close the dog’s mouth and massage or rub her throat until she
swallows. If the dog licks her nose, the pill has been swallowed. Blowing
briefly into the dog’s nose may also cause her to quickly swallow the pill. You
can also give her a syringe full of water to make sure she swallows, or give
the dog a small treat after the pill goes down.

Do not break the pill up into a powder. Powders have an unpleasant taste
that dogs don’t accept well. Some pills also have a protective coating that is
important for the delayed release of the medication, and crushing the pill will
destroy the coating.

Some pills can be given in food. This can be done by making up small
“meatballs” of dog food. Give the dog one or
two undoctored meatballs, then one with the pill pushed deep into the center.
Follow up with an undoctored one so the dog will continue to take the treats even if she gets a small
taste of the medicine.

There are also commercial treats available made specfically for
administering medication that are sticky enough to make it difficult for the
dog to extract a pill while eating the treat. They are soft so they mold easily
around the pill. Pill Pockets and Flavor Doh are two examples.

Always check with your veterinarian before giving any pills with food.